Ferric citrate corroding nickel foam to synthesize carbon quantum dots@nickel-iron layered double hydroxide...

The design of oxygen evolution reaction (OER) catalysts with high catalytic efficiency and durability is of great significance for promoting hydrogen production via water electrolysis. Here, a one-step hydrothermal method was used to synthesize carbon quantum dots@nickel-iron layered double hydroxide (CQDs@NiFe-LDH) composites based on corrosion engineering. The introduction of carbon quantum dots (CQDs) effectively modulates the electronic structure and charge distribution of nickel-iron layered double hydroxide (NiFe-LDH), resulting in high oxygen evolution reaction with an overpotential of 257 mV at 100 mA cm^-2 and a small Tafel slope of 38.73 mV dec^-1. Furthermore, CQDs@NiFe-LDH can be operated continuously for 300 and 100 h without the significant performance degradation at a current density of 100 mA cm^-2 in 1 M KOH and seawater solutions, respectively, indicating high catalytic stability. The excellent OER capabilities of CQDs@NiFe-LDH is attributed to the fact that CQDs can not only modulate the electronic structure of NiFe-LDH but also facilitate the transfer of protons between intermediates during the oxygen evolution reaction (OER), thereby enhancing the material's intrinsic catalytic activity.